Home Office

Serious Violence Taskforce

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the most recent meeting of the Serious Violence Taskforce took place.

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date the Serious Violence Taskforce is next due to meet.

Kit Malthouse: As part of the Government’s ever-ambitious programme of activity to tackle crime, we are re-designing our Governance frameworks and discontinuing the Serious Violence Task Force in its current form.The Prime Minister and Home Secretary are driving a united government response with a new cross-Whitehall Crime and Justice Task Force to ensure we use every lever at our disposal to fight crime.We have also established comprehensive governance arrangements to make sure the ambitions of the Prime Minister’s Task Force are delivered on the ground – including the National Policing Board chaired by the Home Secretary.Meanwhile, we will continue to engage with our wider stakeholders, whose partnership remains critical to our work to reduce violent crime.

Department of Health and Social Care

Emma Stanton

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide a copy of the advice provided by his Department to Emma Stanton, former Director for Supplies and Innovation, before she took up private sector employment with Oxford Nanopore.

Edward Argar: Emma Stanton was advised of conditions before she took up employment with Oxford Nanopore, which are in relation to Civil Service business appointment rules and are which are commensurate with the short length of time she was working for NHS Test and Trace.These related to restrictions on lobbying of the United Kingdom Government and related commercial activities and a reminder on the use of privileged information gained in her time at NHS Test and Trace.A copy of the advice, redacted to remove personal information, is attached.Copy Of The Advice (doc, 87.5KB)

Asthma: Coronavirus

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional support his Department is providing to people living with asthma during the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: Through its communication to general practitioner practices and commissioners on 31 July 2020, NHS England and NHS Improvement asked general practice to restore activity to usual levels where clinically appropriate and reach out proactively to clinically vulnerable patients and those whose care may have been delayed.The new Respiratory Clinical Networks bring together leaders from the National Health Service and other health and social care organisations, to transform the diagnosis, treatment and care for respiratory patients in their local area, focusing on reducing inequalities.Public Health England continue to provide advice for people with long term health conditions during COVID-19.

Hospitals: Fire Prevention

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a public inquiry into hospital fire safety for the (a) 18 PFI projects with fire safety issues and (b) 38 hospitals identified by NHS Improvement as having cladding similar to Grenfell Tower.

Edward Argar: Following the Grenfell tragedy, a review of all National Health Service buildings was undertaken to identify those with Aluminium Cladded Material (ACM). This identified nine buildings with ACM where mitigation actions were immediately put in place. A public inquiry is not seen as required in relation to NHS fire safety at this time.

Hospitals: Fire Prevention

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of updating the hospital fire code to include the (a) 18-metre rule, (b) requirement for limited combustibility insulation and (c) large-scale testing requirement to BS841 which is included in residential building regulations.

Edward Argar: The National Health Service has unique fire safety issues given the nature of its services and the patients it treats. Fire safety guidance is provided to the NHS in the Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 05-02 generally referred to as ‘Firecode’. This will be updated to reflect recent changes in legislation and guidance, such as the changes to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 that have recently been consulted on.

Members: Correspondence

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich of 1 October 2020 on proposed changes to the Human Medicine Regulations 2012, ref PO1264736.

Edward Argar: We are working to provide all Members and external correspondents with accurate answers to their correspondence, as well as supporting the Government’s response to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.The hon. Member’s letter will be answered as soon as possible.

NHS 111

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the 111 clinical assessment service for users; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar: The clinical assessment services that support NHS 111 ensure that callers are given the appropriate self-care advice, treatment or referral to another service.Each clinical assessment service is locally commissioned and locally provided, and their clinical and operational effectiveness is subject to constant review by clinical commissioning groups.

Coronavirus: Patients

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November to Question 112041, if he will make it his policy to publish on a weekly basis the (a) number of (i) covid-19 hospital patients, (ii) covid-19 hospital patients who are in critical status, (iii) hospital patients with other conditions who are in critical status and (iv) covid-19 hospitals patients who have recovered from critical status but remain in hospital and (b) discharge rate from hospitals compared with the historical average rate.

Edward Argar: Specific datasets showing the number of COVID-19 hospital patients, COVID-19 patients who are in a critical status and hospital patients with other conditions who are in critical status are already published by NHS England and GOV.UKData showing the number of COVID-19 hospital patients who have recovered in critical status but remain in hospital and discharge rate from hospitals compared with the historical average rate are not published and there are no plans to publish additional information at this time.

Epilepsy: Medical Treatments

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with epilepsy are able to access the treatments they require through the NHS.

Edward Argar: To ensure that people with neurological conditions such as epilepsy are able to access the treatments they require during the COVID-19 pandemic, providers have been rolling out remote consultations using video, telephone, email and text message services as a priority.The Association of British Neurologists published guidance on 20 May 2020 on neurology services in the recovery phase of the pandemic, assessing which services and patients require urgent prioritisation which is available at the following link:https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.theabn.org/resource/collection/65C334C7-30FA-45DB-93AA-74B3A3A20293/20.05.20_ABN_Restarting_Neurology_Services_post_COVID_v1.pdfNHS England and NHS Improvement have also provided prioritisation advice for community services, published on 19 March 2020 and updated on 8 December 2020, which aims to meet the needs of people with neurological conditions safely and effectively. This guidance is available at the following link:www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/covid-19-prioritisation-within-community-health-services-with-annex_19-march-2020/

Eating Disorders: Health Services

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the inquest into the deaths of Averil Hart, Emma Brown, Maria Jakes, Amanda Bowles, and Madeline Wallace, if he will take steps to improve the quality of NHS care for those with eating disorders.

Ms Nadine Dorries: This Government is committed to learning lessons from those tragic events and ensuring everyone with an eating disorder has access to timely treatment based on clinical need. We welcomed the recommendations of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's ‘Ignoring the Alarms: How NHS eating disorder services are failing patients’ report relating to the death of Averil Hart and two other individuals and we are working closely with our arm’s length bodies and stakeholders to implement the recommendations.In October, NHS England announced additional early intervention services for young people with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. This service, being rolled out in 18 sites across the country, means teens or young adults coming forward could be contacted within 48 hours and begin treatment within two weeks.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to offer mental health support for children and young people during the second covid-19 lockdown.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We recognise the pressures on children and young people’s mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated measures. We will bring forward our winter plan for mental health and wellbeing in due course, outlining the support available over the winter period.We have published ‘Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic’ on GOV.UK and Every Mind Matters. In September 2020, we launched a campaign through Every Mind Matters to raise awareness of the guidance and tools available to support children and young people’s mental wellbeing.

Medical Treatments Abroad: Coronavirus

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people returning to the UK having started medical treatment overseas are able to access the treatment they need under the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Anyone arriving in England, unless from a country or territory on the travel corridors list, is required to self-isolate for 14 days. Anyone in that position who needs to seek medical treatment, where required urgently or on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, may leave their self-isolation to do so.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the evidence given in the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review 2020 led by Baroness Cumberlege on the harms of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); and if he will he make an assessment of the potential merits of initiating an independent review on how ECT is administered and monitored.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We have no plans for such an assessment. All recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review are being considered carefully. The Government will provide an update in due course.Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is tightly regulated under the Mental Health Act 1983 and generally can only be given when a patient consents. The Mental Health Act 1983: Code of Practice provides statutory guidance on the usage of ECT. Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review of the Mental Health Act made 154 recommendations, including proposing further safeguards to strengthen a patients’ rights to refuse this treatment in advance. We have committed to publishing a White Paper which will set out the Government’s response to the Review, which we aim to publish by the end of the year.

Mental Health: Children

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) mental and (b emotional health issues among children caused by the covid-19 outbreak.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We have taken steps to protect children and young people’s mental wellbeing, and to support those children and young people who need specialist support now and in the future. National Health Service mental health services have remained open throughout the pandemic and services have deployed digital tools to connect with people and provide ongoing support. NHS England has also asked all mental health trusts to ensure there are 24 hours, seven days a week open access telephone lines for urgent NHS mental health support, advice and triage for all ages through a single point of access. Our £8 million ‘Wellbeing for Education Return’ programme is providing schools and colleges with the knowledge and access to resources to support children and young people, teachers and parents. On 8 September, Public Health England (PHE) launched a mental wellbeing campaign for children and young people. It expands PHE’s Better Health-Every Mind Matters website with content specifically for children and young people and their parents and carers.

Maternal Mortality: Ethnic Groups

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce the rate of maternity deaths among Black, Asian and minority ethnic women.

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for the higher rate of death in childbirth for Black women.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The NHS Long Term Plan outlines plans to reduce health inequalities and address unwarranted variation in maternity care. This work is led by NHS England through the Maternity Transformation Programme. Targeted and enhanced continuity of care from the same midwife, or group of midwives can significantly improve outcomes for women. The NHS Long-Term plan sets out that 75% of black women will receive continuity of carer from midwives by 2024.Work to reduce health inequalities around maternal mortality rates is being led by Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE, Chief Midwifery Officer. This includes understanding why mortality rates are higher, considering evidence about what will reduce mortality rates and taking action.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the criteria that a local area must meet in order to transfer (a) into and (b) out of a specific local covid alert level.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The COVID-19 Winter Plan set out how national restrictions would lift in England on 2 December. Decisions on which area goes into which tier are primarily based on five key epidemiological indicators as follows:- Case detection rates in all age groups;- Case detection rates in over 60 year olds;- Rate at which cases are rising or falling;- Positivity rate or the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken; and- Pressure on the National Health Service, including current and projected occupancy.The indicators are designed to provide a full picture of what is happening with the virus in any area so that suitable action can be taken.

Funerals: Coronavirus

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with the National Association of Funeral Directors to inform the guidance for conducting funerals during the covid-19 outbreak.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Public Health England and the Department officials have held weekly discussions with the National Association of Funeral Directors as part of the funeral sector stakeholder group. Through this group, the funeral sector has the opportunity to engage on funeral guidance and raise any concerns.

Coronavirus: Newcastle upon Tyne

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November to Question 102802 on Coronavirus: Newcastle upon Tyne, what data his Department holds on the proportion of transmissions in Newcastle that have taken place among (a) university students and (b) the rest of the community; and in what format that data is available.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We publish weekly data on the number of incidents in each setting with at least one laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19. Data as of 3 December is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940878/Weekly_Flu_and_COVID-19_report_w49.pdf

Disease Control: Coronavirus

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 16 November to Question 102801, where that data is published and whether further data on transmission in different settings and demographics is now available.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We do not hold data regarding transmission in different settings and demographics. Weekly data as of 3 December on the number of incidents for each setting with at least one laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940878/Weekly_Flu_and_COVID-19_report_w49.pdf

Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients: Coronavirus

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to make guidance available on visiting rights during the covid-19 outbreak for people detained under the Mental Health Act.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Guidance on ‘Visiting healthcare inpatient settings during the COVID pandemic: principles’ was published on 13 October 2020, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0751-visiting-healthcare-inpatient-settings-principles-131020_.pdf The guidance focuses on ensuring infection control and making sure that patients can access the therapeutic support and visits they need during the pandemic, including for people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. This guidance also advises on the number of visitors permitted under social distancing rules.

Mental Health Services: Coronavirus

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional support he is providing to people with severe mental illness during the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The mental health of everyone is absolutely critical in these unprecedented times. National Health Service mental health services remain open for business and are available throughout the November lockdown restrictions and throughout the winter, providing support online and by phone where necessary. The NHS will also work to ensure that the option of face-to-face support is provided to people with serious mental illness across all ages, where it is clinically safe to do so.All mental health trusts have established 24 hours a day, seven days a week urgent helplines where people experiencing a mental health crisis can access urgent support and advice.People with serious mental illness continue to be able to get help from NHS volunteer responders to access essentials, such as food and medication during this period of national restrictions and throughout the winter.We will bring forward our winter plan for mental health and wellbeing in due course, which will further detail the support available during the remaining weeks of restrictions and beyond.

Mental Health Services: Care Leavers

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what bespoke mental health services are available  for care leavers.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We have asked children and young people’s mental health services to increase contact with vulnerable groups, including looked-after children and care leavers and to work together to better meet the needs of 0-25-year olds, including those with mental health problems not currently supported by existing services. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to the development of a comprehensive mental health offer for children, young people and young adults, including care leavers. We are working to ensure that by 2023/24 an extra 345,000 children and young people will be able to access support via National Health Service-funded mental health services and school or college based mental health support teams.

Perinatal Mortality

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many stillbirths occurred in the NHS in (a) each of the last 5 years and (b) since 23 March 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: This information is not held centrally.

Coronavirus: Pre-school Education

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling parent and child groups for pre-school age children to continue during the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Reducing social contact is the most important factor in driving down transmission. However, the Government knows that rules about social distancing are difficult for everyone, especially those with young children.Support groups for new parents can continue to be held, as can support groups for new parents in community settings, such as a place of worship, community centre or hall, or library, that are essential to deliver in person. These groups can continue with up to 15 participants where the purpose is to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support. Where these are held in Ofsted registered settings, they should follow Government guidance on COVID-19 for early years and childcare providers which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures Informal groups, such as those organised by a parent, need to comply with the gathering and household mixing rules. In practice during the period of national restrictions this means these groups should only meet virtually.When national restrictions apply, in determining the limit of 15 participants, children under the age of five are not counted towards the limit.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to issue guidance on parental visits to child and adolescent mental health facilities during the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We recognise just how important it is that parents are able to visit their children in children and young people’s mental health inpatient settings in a very careful and COVID-19-secure way. The National Health Service has taken precautions to ensure that patients and staff in inpatient settings are suitably protected from the outbreak and to reduce the risk of decreased capacity due to staff needing to self-isolate.   Recent guidance on ‘Visiting healthcare inpatient settings during the COVID-19 pandemic: principles’, updated on 13 October 2020, focuses on both ensuring infection control and making sure that patients can access the therapeutic support and visits they need during the pandemic across healthcare inpatient settings, including for children and young people’s mental health facilities. This also includes specific guidance on appropriate application of the legal frameworks around isolation and testing during the pandemic.   The guidance is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0751-visiting-healthcare-inpatient-settings-principles-131020_.pdf

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Children and Young People

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of risk of suicide and self harm for children and young people waiting to access national obsessive compulsive disorder Tier 4 services.

Ms Nadine Dorries: No such assessment has been made.

Maternity Services: Coronavirus

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what resources he has made available to support women unable to go through the maternity process with their birthing partner as a result of the new national covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what resources he has made available to support fathers or birthing partners unable to support mothers through the maternity process as a result of the new national covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 sets out that a person can leave home for any medical reason, including to be with someone who is giving birth.Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, women have been able to have one partner of their choice with them during labour and childbirth as long as their birth partner is well and does not have COVID-19 symptoms.If the birth partner has symptoms of COVID-19, an alternative, well birth partner has been able to attend in their place.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Children and Young People

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which institutions are contracted to provide national obsessive compulsive disorder Tier 4 services for children and young people; and what number of beds are (a) provided and (b) available at each of those institutions in the most recent period for which such information is available.

Ms Nadine Dorries: National obsessive compulsive disorder services for adults and children are delivered by the following mental health providers:- South London and the Maudsley NHS Trust;- South West London and St George’s NHS Trust; and- Priory Group Limited (Priory Hospital North London). Information on the number of beds provided or available at each provider is not collected centrally.

Bereavement Counselling: South Yorkshire

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will introduce a bereavement support bubble policy in South Yorkshire to enable grieving households to form a support bubble with one other household whilst the (a) November 2020 national lockdown or (b) Tier 3 local covid alert level lockdown restrictions are in place.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending support bubble arrangements to grieving households of any size during periods of (a) national and (b) regional Tier 3 covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The loss of a loved one can be extremely difficult for people of all ages, particularly during the pandemic where usual systems of support are harder to access.The regulations make exemptions to the restrictions on gatherings for support groups for those who have suffered bereavement, as well as making provision for ‘linked households’, known as ‘support bubbles’.A ‘support bubble’ is a network between a household with only one adult or a household with one adult and one or more children who are under the age of 18. In effect, this support bubble acts as a single household with people from another household as if they were a member of a household.The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 are the current set of restrictions, which will expire 2 December 2020, and an announcement on their replacement will be made in due course. The government continues to follow the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and is regularly monitoring current guidelines on COVID-19 restrictions going forward.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Children and Young People

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average length of stay is in an institution contracted to provide national obsessive compulsive disorder Tier 4 services for children and young people.

Ms Nadine Dorries: This information is not available.

Statutory Sick Pay: Coronavirus

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department is providing to parents with children with covid-19 symptoms who have been required to self-isolate by schools and who are not entitled to statutory sick pay if they do not go to work.

Ms Nadine Dorries: If a child is self-isolating because they have symptoms of COVID-19, other members of their household should also self-isolate. In this situation, parents and/or guardians should follow guidance and book a test for their child. They can do this through any of the main testing channels. In the event the child does test positive, they should continue to self-isolate for at least ten days from the onset of their symptoms, and only return to school after ten days if they do not have symptoms. All other members of the household should continue to self-isolate until 14 days after the onset of the child’s symptoms. If a child has tested positive, other members of their household who need to self-isolate may be eligible for the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment, if they are a low-income worker, unable to work from home and losing income as a result. If a parent or guardian needs support while a child is self-isolating, there is Government guidance on staying at home and self-isolating, accessing local support provided by their local authority and receiving assistance from NHS Volunteer Responders.

Contact Tracing: Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many schools have been contacted by the Government's track and trace system after a pupil or staff member has tested positive with covid-19 in Bermondsey and Old Southwark constituency in each of the last four months.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We publish weekly data on the number of incidents in each setting with at least one laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 which is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945502/Weekly_Flu_and_COVID-19_report_w51_FINAL.pdf

Eating Disorders: Health Services

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many adults aged 18 and over at time of referral were referred to specialist secondary mental health services with a primary reason of referral of eating disorders between April and August in (a) 2019 and (b) 2020; and what proportion of those referrals were made to an eating disorders service.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The information requested is in the following tables:MonthReferrals of people aged 18 and over with primary reason for referral as eating disordersReferred to eating disorder serviceproportion (%)April 20191,3991,11279.5%May 20191,5241,20178.8%June 20191,4861,17879.3%July 20191,7041,30676.6%August 20191,5561,22878.9%MonthReferrals of people aged 18 and over with primary reason for referral as eating disordersReferred to eating disorder serviceproportion (%)April 20201,11884275.3%May 20201,4561,16479.9%June 20201,9311,57581.6%July 20202,1581,70779.1%August 2020Not yet available Source: Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS), NHS Digital

Mental Illness: Prisoners

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many prisoners have been diagnosed with a mental illness while in prison in each of the last five years.

Ms Nadine Dorries: We do not hold the information in the format requested.

Stalking: Victims

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 October 2020 to Question 94509, what trauma informed services are available to victims of stalking; and what training on stalking healthcare staff complete.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Victims of stalking can access a range of healthcare services depending on their clinical needs, and healthcare services are increasingly becoming trauma-informed, including mental health community care and sexual assault and abuse services. The Intercollegiate Document ‘Adult Safeguarding: Roles and Competencies for Health Care Staff’ sets out the safeguarding knowledge, skills and attitudes required by staff working in health and care settings. All healthcare staff must undertake mandatory safeguarding training.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether frontline homeless service workers will receive a covid-19 vaccine under phase 1 of the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation prioritisation list.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation’s (JCVI) advice has stated that Phase 1 of the vaccine roll out should have the prevention of mortality at the forefront of its objectives, as well as to support the National Health Service and social care system. For the first phase, the JVCI have therefore advised that the vaccine be given to care home residents and staff, as well as frontline health and social care workers, then to the rest of the population in order of age and clinical risk factors. Included in this are those with underlying health conditions, which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality. Phase 2 of the roll out may include further reduction in hospitalisation and targeted vaccination of those at high risk of exposure and/or those delivering key public services.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his oral answer on 14 December 2020, Official Report, column 46, whether people with learning disabilities are in the same priority category for covid-19 vaccinations as 75 year olds; and what priority is being given to vaccinations for people who are 75 or older who have learning disabilities.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are the independent experts who advise the Government on which vaccine/s the United Kingdom should use and provide advice on prioritisation at a population level. The JCVI advises that the first priorities for any COVID-19 vaccination programme should be the prevention of COVID-19 mortality and the protection of health and social care staff and systems, with old age being the single biggest factor determining mortality. For the first phase, the JVCI have advised that the vaccine be given to care home residents and staff, as well as frontline health and social care workers, then to the rest of the population in order of age and clinical risk factors. People with a learning disability who are clinically extremely vulnerable, including adults with Down's syndrome, will be vaccinated alongside those aged 70 years or older. People with specific underlying health conditions, including a severe and profound learning disability, are prioritised to receive the vaccine in advance of those aged 60 years and older in phase one.

Randox Testing Services: Coronavirus

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a copy of (a) the contract and (b) any extension to the contract with Randox for covid-19 testing.

Helen Whately: Public notices of the contracts are published on the Government’s Contract Finder Service.The contracts awarded to Randox are available at the following links: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7f989fa6-30e6-4caa-b28f-2b98fcce21c4?origin=SearchResults&p=1  https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/77691c09-d5fa-4093-8f18-1344f8a2c91b?origin=SearchResults&p=1  https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d1441656-5ffa-4cda-9c9b-11a4887f8c6e?origin=SearchResults&p=1

Randox Testing Services: Coronavirus

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what date the Government entered into the Randox contract for covid-19 testing; whether that contract was extended; and what were the (a) date and (b) amount of each payment made to Randox under that contract.

Helen Whately: Public notices of the contracts are published on the Government’s Contract Finder service.The contracts awarded to Randox are available at the following links: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/7f989fa6-30e6-4caa-b28f-2b98fcce21c4?origin=SearchResults&p=1  https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/77691c09-d5fa-4093-8f18-1344f8a2c91b?origin=SearchResults&p=1   https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d1441656-5ffa-4cda-9c9b-11a4887f8c6e?origin=SearchResults&p=1

Kidneys: Medical Treatments

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on trends in the level of people (a) receiving a kidney transplant and (b) requiring dialysis treatment.

Helen Whately: Organ donation and deceased donor transplant activity, including kidney transplants, has been restored to pre COVID-19 levels. During the pandemic, life-saving kidney transplants still took place although kidney donor transplantation activity was 20% lower compared to the same period in 2019.Patients requiring dialysis continued to receive that treatment. The ‘COVID-19 Rapid Guideline: dialysis service delivery’, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, set out guidance for clinicians to maximise the safety of patients on dialysis during the pandemic.

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any issues have been identified as a result of the performance meeting on Serco's management of the test and trace service; and whether any remedial plans have been agreed.

Helen Whately: No issues have been identified with regard to Serco’s performance as per their contractual standards and therefore no remedial plans have been agreed.

Coronavirus: Screening

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2020 to Question 89687 on Coronavirus: Screening, what the performance standards are that Serco are expected to meet under the terms of its contract relating to its involvement in the provision of covid-19 testing.

Helen Whately: Performance and quality assurance standards and processes are included in the Government contracts with Serco. These are commercially sensitive. The contracts have break clauses in them, meaning if the company does not meet required service levels, the contract may be cancelled and money reclaimed.

Coronavirus: Screening

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the SAMBA II Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 test system.

Helen Whately: All manufacturers of PCR tests for COVID-19 must meet the requirements of our validation process to ensure the accuracy of their tests. The national technical validation process for manufacturers of COVID-19 is available at the following link:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessment-and-procurement-of-coronavirus-covid-19-tests/coronavirus-covid-19-serology-and-viral-detection-testing-uk-procurement-overview

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Imran Ahmad Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have downloaded the NHS covid-19 app (a) in total and (b) as a proportion of the population in Wakefield since that app was launched.

Helen Whately: As of 28 October, the NHS COVID-19 app has been downloaded over 19.22 million times. This figure covers both England and Wales. The app has been designed with user privacy in mind. We do not hold exact data on app downloads by local area.